So close but still so far away

HJK had a great chance last Thursday to kick Schalke 04 out from the Euro league. Well, David was not able to beat Goljat, but the man who scored 3 goals in Schalke net just today made a contract with Schalke...

Today also started the European Championships in basketball. Finland made it to the games and started with a game against top European team Croatia. At half time Finland was 2 points up, but again stronger team won as Croatia took a 5 point win. Finland's only player ever with NBA experience, Hanno Möttölä, didn't have that big role but NBA draft - hopefully soon an NBA player - Petteri Koponen was Finland's top scorer.

The games have only started and Finland is not a potential champion, where as winning a half time is already an achievement. Let the games continue - and team Finland kick some ass!

Light in the tunnel with Finnish ball sports

Finland's men's basketball team is going to the European Championships in few weeks. It is the first time since 1995 - which is hell of a lot better than in Football where Finland has never been in the games. Yet.

Today they won Hungary and still have one game to play. The game against Portugal will define which will go to the group with Spain, Turkey and Lithuania. Finland has got a win from the first game, hence even if Portugal wins by 12 points then Portugal will get the Spain-Turkey-Lithuania games.

Last Thursday HJK from Helsinki won Schalke 04 from Germany in one of the European cups. HJK was dropped out from Champions League and continued with these. The winner of the game pair will go to the next phase.

The starting point to the games was quite clear: Schalke 04 with 18 times bigger player budget. HJK is an semi pro team, while Schalke 04 is a true professional team - or do you think that Raul would choose any other way? Heck, after the game on Thursday night, many HJK players were on Friday morning at 8 am in the office for their day job. So much for the glory...

Ho, wanna know how the game ended?

HJK won 2-0!!!

If you wanna see th game, it is for a while available online here.

Second part is played this Thursday and I am soooo much looking forward to it!

PS We should not forget that Finland won the ice hockey World Championships this year...!

Food tip for Helsinki, Finland

Hotel Torni's restaurant in Helsinki has made a simple thing into fantastic treat both for locals and tourists. You can order a fabulous snack to go with your beer: new season potatoes. Prices 3 and 6 Euros, served in a kettle with dill and butter.

Hurry up, the summer in Helsinki is almost over...!

Tornin kesäpiha

Yrjönkatu 26

Open Mon-Sat 15-22 hrs, Potatoes available also at Sunday BBQ evenings 15-20 hrs

http://www.ravintolatorni.fi/ravintola-torni.html

Don't forget to check also the scenery bar at the top - including a visit in the toilet with the best view in the city.

PS For info or reference from NYT-liite of Helsingin Sanomat, records for eating:

- 68 hot dogs in 10 minutes by Joey Chestnut (don't know how much he would eat chestnuts in the same time though...)

- 3,6 kilos of french fries in 10 minutes by Bob Schoudt

- 65  boiled eggs in 6 min 40 seconds by Sonya Thomas

- 890 grams of chocolates in 7 minutes by Patrick Bertoletti (surprisingly not a woman)

- 6 kilos of water melon in 15 minutes by Jim Reeves

French fries

Summer is beautiful

Regards from the Family Swan.